The estranged husband of “Real Housewives of Beverly Hills” cast member Taylor Armstrong has been found dead in what police on Tuesday said appeared to be a suicide.
Russell Armstrong was found dead on Monday evening in a Los Angeles home, an LA police spokesperson said. But TMZ.com said Armstrong was found hanging in a bedroom. Police could not confirm details but said Armstrong’s death was being treated as an apparent suicide.
Taylor Armstrong has released a statement through her rep in the aftermath of her husband Russell Armstrong’s apparent suicide.
“Taylor Armstrong is devastated by the tragic events that have unfolded,” it says. “She requests privacy at this time so that she may comfort her young daughter. Her thoughts and prayers are also with Russell’s 11 and 13 year old sons.”
Armstrong’s wife Taylor filed for divorce in July and her struggle to keep her marriage together was going to be a theme in the second season of “The Real Housewives of Beverly Hills“, which will begin airing on September 5.
The couple, who was married for six years, have one young daughter, Kennedy.
The venture capitalist had financial troubles and was very upset about the divorce to Taylor. Armstrong’s lawyer Ronald Richards told TMZ that he had huge debt problems but had no idea Armstrong was depressed and suicidal.
“His credit cards weren’t working…He had tremendous financial problems,” Richards told TMZ. “He was also extremely bummed out about the divorce with Taylor.”
Taylor recently told People magazine about their failing marriage and described how Russell would curse at her, call her names, grab her, throw objects, shove her and pull her hair. Russell had admitted that their arguments did cross the line into physically abusive.
“Did I push her? Yes, maybe things happened in the heat of the moment, but it was during a time in our lives that was not characteristic of who we were. This show has literally pushed us to the limit.”
Those words are disturbing now with this awful news of his apparent suicide.
Did the reality show literally push him to his limit? Did the public scrutiny due to being on the show contribute to his demise?
All in the name of entertainment? It’s a scary thought and even more disturbing to think about the effects of reality shows have on the people who are starring in them.
What’s even sadder is knowing that their little daughter has not even been told yet about her father’s death.
Tragic indeed.
